GEOSCIENCE Australia has confirmed an earthquake measuring 3.8 on the Richter scale originated about five kilometres from the heart of Newcrest Mining’s Cadia Valley Operations gold and copper mine on Sunday afternoon.

According to the Federal government agency’s website, the quake struck at 12.46pm about two kilometres south-west of the mine’s northern and southern tailings dams, and about five kilometres from the mine’s production centre.

At this stage it is not known what, if any, safety or evacuation procedures have been activated at the CVO site.

Geoscience Australia is reporting the quake originated at a depth of 10 kilometres.

Dan Pedersen, whose property is at Flyers Creek near Errowanbang, said his house’s roof “shuddered” when the tremor was felt.

“The windows were rattling,” Mr Pedersen said.

“It was not normal, it was a substantial shake.”

On April 14 last year a 4.3 magnitude quake about four kilometres from the Cadia mine led to production stopping for about 75 days before a limited amount could resume.

It took a further six months before full production recommenced.

In March this year a dam wall between CVO’s northern and southern tailings dams partially collapsed less than a day after two small earthquakes were registered five and 10 kilometres away.